Second-Hand Religion by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 16, 1876

Second-Hand Religion.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

Though we have free access to the fountain of revealed truth, the Bible, which is able to make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work, yet the great mass of men choose a second-hand religion, taking what others have taught for the truth, instead of what God has clearly revealed. In things pertaining to this life, they are wise enough to look out for themselves, so that no man shall deceive them; but respecting a preparation for the world to come, they willingly leave themselves in the hands of others. Not feeling sufficient interest in it to learn what God has taught for themselves, they implicitly trust their hopes of eternal life to those who have, like themselves, followed the traditions of their fathers from ages and generations past.

The gospel plainly requires that every one should repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. All in Christian lands know this; and in every land of Bible light the meaning of baptism is laid open, so that among all the learned there is “not a dog to move his tongue” against immersion, as valid and genuine baptism. All agree that it is. But tradition has long taught that something else will do just as well; and therefore a substitute for what God requires continues to be offered, with the vain hope that it will be equally acceptable with Him who has said, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” They would not take a counterfeit one-dollar bill, though assured that it would pass just as well as the genuine. But in matters involving the favor of God and an interest in the eternal world, they will trust in the word of men, ignoring the word of God.

The fourth commandment of the holy law of God, delivered with his own voice and written with his own finger, still requires all to remember and keep holy the day on which he rested when he made the world. That day was not the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth day; for he labored on each of these; but the seventh day was the Sabbath, or rest-day; for he rested on this and on no other. But while the commandment of God bids us rest on the seventh day, because God rested on it, men tell us that another day, the first day of the week, will do equally as well, and even better, because they think the day of Christ’s resurrection more worthy of commemoration than the creation of the world.

There is not the least intimation of this change in all the Scriptures of truth. Men pretend that there is, because they choose to follow the easy rut of tradition, rather than venture the asperity of turning into the forsaken and narrow track of truth. It is true that the counterfeit will pass as well, and even better, in this world, than the genuine. But how sad will be the disappointment when it shall be presented at the bank of Heaven!

Let me exhort and beseech you, dear reader, to go to the fountain-head of truth, and not, in a land of Bibles, get your religious ideas second-hand. There is great light at the present time from revelation, if we will receive it. But the days are perilous, from the fact that there is great danger that the light will be rejected, and the false light of tradition will still be followed in these closing hours of probation. The rage of the world is riches, pleasures, and popular applause. While these things fill the heart, religion being a secondary thing, a mere expedient by which to get to Heaven when the earth can no longer be enjoyed, you will be content to take your religion second-hand, not having time nor disposition to go to the fountain and draw for yourself.

R. F. COTTRELL.